Nasal filter



Nov. 24, 1953 M. A. COLEMAN NASAL FILTER Filed Jan. 18, 1951 J/a/colm COZemczn BY2{M W% ATTORNEYS sioion when packaged or when Patentied Nov. Z4, 1953 UNITED srxrss NASAL FILTER Malcolm A. Coleman, Washington, D. C. Application January 18, 1951, Serial N0. 206,702

10 Claims. 1

The specification which follows re1ates to an improvement in nasa1 filters of the type which can be inserted into each nostri1 independently. Where the air being breathed contains smoke, dust, or smal1 partieles which are irritating to the nose and throat, or detrimental to health, nasa1 filters usual1y provide a means of removing these foreign particles and injurious matter from the air during inhalation.

This invention deals. with the production of a simpfl-e but eflective fi1ter for such purposes. Requirements for this are ease 015 applicaoion and efiective trapping of the foreign particles and injurious matter in air Without impeding the normal intake of air.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a simple, disposable fi1ter which can be adjusted and applied by the user without particular care 10r ski11.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which has inherent resilience so that it may conform in size and shape to the outer passageway of the nstril.

A furoher object 0f the invention is the provision of means to hold the several parts in pobeing hand1ed.

A further object of the inventiom is 130 provide a nasal air fi1ter having one, er more, open-end 11011 W" eores, the 'inside passage-way of which eimbodies fine strips or partidles of hair, or anima1 or. veget'able ber, and the outside s11rfaces 0f which are' packed orsurrounded by porous, p1iab1e material, around all of which there is a fi1m, binder, or lowcount fabric over-al1 covering 'Ihis Will provide supplemental air filtering intended '00 rsist, trap, and retard dust diro, smoke or other inji1rious partic1es in the air, and for the purpose of providing a means for inc1usion, or 1:0 permit the inclusion, where desirab=le of nasal medicinal inhalano or, application for combatting bacteria, germs, infection or contagion.

Other and further objects of the inventi.on will be apparent from the following particular description of the preferred form of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the core of the 7 improved nasa1 filter;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the core wrapped in the covering band; Fig. 3 is a perspective view wrapping band in final form;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the overal1 covering material;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the completed' filter,

and

partially of the core and per II.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal transverse section 013 the fi1ter on the 1ine 66 of Fig. 5.

Briefly described the invention consists in a tubular core through which the greater part of the air passes during breathing, modified by the presence of a surrounding mass of 1oose fibrous material. This material combines a filtering action with a deformable and s1ight1y resilient property by which the article may be held in position in the nostrifl without inconveniencing the wearer.

In ehe drawings I have shown the nasa1 fi1ter to inc1ude a core 8. This core is made of a sheet of paper wrapped spirally and c1'1t into a suitable 1ength, preferably one fourth of an inch. 'Ihe tube is slit longitudinally as shown at 9, and there is a resulting tendency for the core so spread out s1ightly if not confined. The central passageway has filaments I2 er 1ike material to catch dust and the Ilike.

The outer surface of this core is coated with a water-proof varnish or lacquer for greater stabi1ity and durability.

'Ihe core is wrapped with a spira1 band II! of a porous mass of 1oose bers. This band is sligh+- 1y wider than the length of the eure 8. It is wrapped two or more times around the core before the latter is permitted to expand. This wrapping operation is illustrated in Fig. 2. The surface filaments of the band I0 are interlocked and the convolutions are I:hus held together as shown in Fig. 3. At ehe same time, the inner core 8 expands s1ightly and thus p1aces the inner portions of the band III under slight tension. Um der these conditions the side edges of ohe band will spread beyondthe ends of the core 8 a considerable degree as shown in Fig. 6.

The bers of which the band I0 is made up, er

surrounding the core, may be of any suitable type. I have illustrated the band as being made up of natural cotton fibers c1osely felted but still porous. The term porous is here used to indicate ready permeability for air pass through 'ohe mass in all directions.

'Ihe cotton ber may be treated in any austomary manner 110 increase its porosity.

Other bers, both vegetable and anima1, may be utilized for this purpose and chief among these I inc1ude 1inen and lambs W001.

T0 facilitate the handling and permanence of the filter thus produced, I provide an outer wrap- In Fig. 4 I have shown this wrapper 110 consist of a square of open-mesh woven fabric. This is reticulate, so that it offers no obstruction to the free passage cf air.

The square of fabric is large enough so that it may be bound around the mass I0 as shown in Fig. 5, and the corners may then be twisted together, knotted or cemented.

In the course of the wrapping the loose bers on the side 0f the band I0 will be brought together to the center of the toric or ring-shaped article and thus partially cover the ends of the tube 8. This issh own in Fig. 6.

The filter thus made is easily assembled and sterilized and will stand storage and transportation without alteration. The filter may be made in several sizes, and a number of filters of a selected size may be packed in a small container, such as a pill box. The filter may be shaped generally to conform 1:0 the nasal opening, but the overa1l pliability and. softness cf the comnonezrt parts may permit of further manual shaping for specific individual use.

The filters may be readily held in the fingers and inserted within each nostril. In doing so, the tube 8 Will normally take a position co-axial with the passageway, and t'he mass I 0 of fibers will be brought into contact with the Wall o1 the nostril. The filter will the1i conform closely to the nostril and be retainecl in position. At the Same time, i1; will ofier the minimum obstruction 120 normal breathing. The filter will permit air 1:0 pasg both through the core and through the filter mass. Foreign particles Will be trapped in the filter, and it Will also absorb excess moisture and the 1ike, thus increasing its filtering property.

Filters of this type may be readily applied. and after once being used can be disposed of and replaced. wi th fresh fi1ters.

The choice of material and the particular shape or form 01 these filters, including 1Jhe shape and number of com ponent parts, can be selected to suit the convenience of the maker, and such variation in material, form and proportiong is within the scope of the invention as definea in the following claims.

What I claim ist A nasal filter having an axial resilient tubular core that is sp1it longitudinally and contains particles of filtering material, a surrounding porous mass of loose fibers and an open-mesh wrapper.

2. A nasal filter havin g anaxial resilient tabular paper core that is split longitudinally and contains particles of filtering material, a surrounding porous mass of bers and an open-mesh wrapper.

3. A nasal fi1ter having an axia1 tubular core of disposable paper and containing particles of filtering material a surrounding mass of vegetable fibers and an open-mesh wra-pper.

4. A nasal filter having an axial tubular core of disposable paper and. containing particles 01 filtering material, a surrounding mas of cotton fibers and an open-mesh wrapper.

5. A nasal filter having an axial tubular core of disposable paper and contaimng particles of filtering material, a surrounding mass of linen b r and an p n-m w a pe 6. A nasal fi1ter having an axial resilient tubular core that is sp1it longitudinally and contains particles of filtering material a spirally wrapped porous band of loose fibers and. an open-mesh wrapper.

7. A nasal filter having an axial resilient tubu- 1ar core that 15 split longitudinally and contains particles o 1f filtering material, a surrounding porous mass of loose fibers and an open-mesh reticu- 1ate woven fabric wrapper.

8. A nasal filter having an axia1 resilient tubu- 1ar core that is split longitudinally and contains particles o1 filtering material, a surrounding po rous mass of 100se bers and a square wrapper cf open-mesh reticulate woven ber extending across the ends of the core and having its corners twisted together.

9. A nasal filter having an axial tubular core, a surrounding porous mass of loose bers extencling loosely 0Ver the ends of the core, and an openmesh fabric wrapper completely covering i?he ber mass and having its corners twisted to-. gether.

10. A ring-shaped nasal filter having an inner tubular core that 15 split longitudinally and couv tains particles of filtering material, a spiralvrrapped outer porous band of loose bers mater1ally wider than the adjacent tubular Walls o1 the core, said fiberg extending beyond each end of the core, and. an open-mesh Wrapper over the band and confining a portion of said fibers over each open end of the core.

MALCOLM A. COLEMAN.

References Cited in the file 0f th:iS patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

